Coventry is getting a massive cash injection of £5million as it sets to ramp up ahead of becoming the UK's City of Culture.

Arts Council England is behind the massive donation which will be ploughed into transforming the city before, during and after the big year.

The huge investment was announced at an event at Coventry Transport Museum today, alongside a grant of £376,353 for the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum to make it more environmentally friendly.

The city will become the third to take the City of Culture title in 2021.

Not only will the year see a massive boom in celebrations, but also a boost to the city's economy.

Reports from Hull - the UK's last City of Culture in 2017 - suggest that city's economy benefited from at least a £22 million boost thanks to the title, and secured £3.4 billion in investment, as well as creating hundreds of new jobs.

At the moment, Coventry City Council is thrusting ahead bringing forward projects - including the city's new railway station - ahead of schedule and in time for the hundreds and thousands of visitors the title is expected to bring.

How will the money be spent?

The National Lottery funding will be handed to the Coventry City of Culture Trust, headed up by Chief Executive Martin Sutherland.

The team is behind the development and delivery of the entire cultural programme, which aims to celebrate the people and places that make Coventry unique.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, referenced the city's long manufacturing history as he made the announcement at the Transport museum .

The city is the birthplace of the black cab, and was once the centre of the car-making industry, with Jaguar Land Rover still based here.

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He said: “Coventry has a long tradition as a centre of creativity. People here are famous the world over for making things - and for making things happen.

"This new £5million investment from the National Lottery means the team behind Coventry’s winning UK City of Culture bid can now turn their creative dreams into reality.

“My belief is that by the end of 2021, the lives of everyone here will have changed for the better.

"Along the way, this sustained investment in artists and cultural organisations will secure Coventry’s rightful place on the national and international stage as a dynamic, innovative, inclusive, international and forward-looking 21st century city.”

City of Culture dream team - Laura McMillan, David Burbidge, Chenine Bhathena and newly appointed Martin Sutherland

'A future of the city'

As part of the celebration, Darren Henley was joined by Chenine Bhathena, the Creative Director for UK City of Culture 2021, and Martin Sutherland, the Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust, and council leaders at the event.

“Our bid to win City of Culture was bold and ambitious, challenging us to explore the role of culture in a diverse and modern Britain," Ms Bhathena said.

“Arts Council England very much shares our vision especially for putting arts and culture at the centre of the city's social development, embracing our youthful, diverse and creative communities to reimagine ourself as a future city.